An Introduction to Luke

Luke 1:1–4 NIV84

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Introduction

Gospel - what a joy to delve into!

Luke wrote this book.

Actually the first in a two-part work - Luke-Acts (see Acts 1:1-2)

I will just be introducing the book very briefly this morning.

1. The Person who wrote Luke

Introductory comments

Historically, held that Luke wrote

Author doesn't identify himself.

But there is weighty evidence in support of Luke being the author.

Link Between Luke and Acts

Note Luke intro... (particularly reference to Theophilus

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” (Acts 1:1–2, NIV84)

Clearly, whoever wrote Luke, wrote Acts

In Acts, various "we" occurrences..." author includes himself. Luke traveled extensively with Paul. If you compare the data with Paul’s own writings, the only person to fit would be Luke, who travelled with Paul.

Early historians all affirmed Luke as the author.

Irenaeus, who lived from around A.D. 130 to 202

Tertullian, who lived from A.D. 155 to 230

Eusebius, writing around A.D. 323

Church tradition throughout history has affirmed Luke as the author.

What else do we know about Luke?

1.1. He was a Gentile

Col. 4:14 - Paul first lists Jewish companions, and then the Gentile, where Luke is included. (note v.11)

His writing is clearly aimed at Gentiles.

Intro - written in an excellent manner, would have appealed to the Greek / Gentile world.

He followed the structure and language of many early historians.

1.2. He was a physician / doctor...

“Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.” (Colossians 4:14, NIV84)

Well spoken, Educated

He shows a great interest in healing ministry of Jesus.

More uses of healer / healing than any other Gospels

Flowed out of his interest here... he cared about people's wellbeing.

One commentator writes...

“He is telling of a man who has the power and authority to do the kind of work that he himself has been trained to do, but at depths undreamed-of, and in regions unexplored, and with effects so far-reaching as to confound his own elementary ideas of healing/salvation.” (Wilcock, M. (1979). The Savior of the world: the message of Luke’s gospel (p. 19). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. )

1.3. He was extensively with Paul

“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11, NIV84)

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.” (Philemon 23–24, NIV84)

Note from Acts, the occassions that he traveled with Paul...

Acts 16:10-18 - was with Paul on missionary journeys

Acts 20:4 - 21:19

Acts 27:1 - 28:30

1.4. He was a careful and meticulous student

We will go more into this... but important to know about him

You can see that he spent time evaluating things...

Note the details that in includes...

Sir William Ramsey ( a Scottish archaeologist, particular interest in Asia Minor)...

Sir William Ramsay (1851-1939) was an archaeologist and biblical skeptic. He taught at the University of Edinburgh and believed that Bible writers made facts and stories up. The book of Acts, he declared, was full of errors, and to prove this contention, he traveled to Asia Minor to demonstrate Luke’s unreliability.

He understood he could not prove or disprove miracle accounts, but if he could show Luke to be a sloppy historian on facts that could be verified

(geographical and historical), he felt he could discredit Luke’s unverifiable stories.

"Luke’s narrative was trustworthy, it was for me exceptionally valuable, as giving evidence on a larger scale. There was nothing else like it. No other ancient traveller has left an account of the journeys which he made across Asia Minor; and if the narrative of Paul’s travels rests on first-class authority, it placed in my hands a document of unique and exceptional value to guide my investigations. To determine the value of this narrative was a fundamental condition for my future work."

“Further study of Acts XIII.-XXI. showed that the book could bear the most minute scrutiny of an authority for the facts of the Aegean world, and that it was written with such judgement, skill, art, and perception of the truth as to be a model of historical statement.”

“You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian’s, and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment, provided always that the critic knows the subject and does not go beyond the limits of science and of justice.”

2. The Preparations for Luke (v.1-2)

Verse 1

“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,” (Luke 1:1, NIV84)

Many have undertaken...

Who are the many?

How many were there? Meaning of the word?

Possible to refer to Matthew, Mark, John...

But probably there were many authors of the day that wrote down stories of what Jesus was doing.

Many records had been made...

Think of our day - reporters - people write what is taking place.

Consider Jesus arriving - thousands of people flocking to Him.

He couldn't get rest.

"Many" demonstrates the perceived importance of the life and works of Jesus

What Jesus performed and did was not done in a corner. (Paul to Festus)

People would have been greatly intrigued by what Jesus was doing.

So perhaps it was difficult telling the fact from the fiction.

“...an account of things fulfilled...”

This term was frequently used by Greek writers to describe historical works. Thus Luke related his own work to that of the historians, and such passages as 2:1–2 and 3:1–2 clearly reflect historical pretensions. (Stein, R. H.)

Interesting that they are particularly interested in fulfilment

Prophecies had been recorded.. now they were waiting for fulfilment.

referring to how Jesus’ life and teachings fulfilled the OT. Jesus is the awaited Messiah who by his life and death fulfilled the promises of the OT. The fulfillment of prophecy is a clear Lukan theme. (Stein, R. H.)

Prophetic fulfilment is one of the key bases upon which Luke seeks to found his claims about Christ.

Interesting that Luke was a Gentile, but He recognised Jesus as Jewish promised Messiah.

Observations / Applications.

The prophetic works in the OT are so vitally important!

We must read the OT to get a grasp of the NT

What we are probably going to find in Luke is a series of records of what has taken place which demonstrates the fulfilment of the prophetic words in Jesus Christ.

Verse 2

“just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.” (Luke 1:2, NIV84)

Emphasizes second-generation Christians...

“...they were handed down to us...”

This is a technical term used to describe the passing on of authoritative tradition. (Stein, R. H.)

Teaching had been handed down from one generation of people, to a new generation.

The Gospel was going to be sent forth into the world.

The command that Christ had issued to his 12 disciples before His ascension, was being put into effect...

And Luke here confirms that these teachings - written down - have been handed down.

Note - Luke was not an eye-witness

“...by those...first were eyewitnesses and servants...”

These are the people that saw what took place.

My mind goes to 1 John intro - he heavily emphasized what was seen, touched, heard etc.

Note Acts 1:21-22, written by Luke also. Emphasis on eye-witness testimony.

BUT - not only Apostles...

There were multiple eyewitnesses.

Consider that after the resurrection of Christ He appeared to many people, confirming that he was indeed raised from the dead.

1 Cor 15:3-8

Acts 13:31

They became servants as they went on to proclaim that which they had seen.

“...of the word...”

Note his use of "The Word..."

Compare this with John's Gospel... did they have a similar understanding?

Was "the word" a term common in the day, with various other usages?

Did the use of this phrase begin prior to the NT writings?

YES!! It was used of the prophets... "The Word of the LORD through the prophet XYZ..."

BUT - if this is referring to those proclaiming Christ, then it is referring to servants of the Gospel - Jesus Christ being the Word...

The Word has reference to the Gospel message. Used in this sense over forty times in Luke and Acts

3. The Prompting of Luke (v.3)

“Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,” (Luke 1:3, NIV84)

“Therefore...”

Because of the various truths that have been outlined...

Because of the fact that many have attempted

Because of the fact that these things have indeed been fulfiled

Because of the fact that truths have been handed down...

Because of the fact that there have been eyewitnesses to all these events...

Because there have been servants of the Word that have handed these truths down to others...

Therefore...

“...it seemed good also to me to write…”

He was burdened by the Lord to begin writing this account Himself.

He felt compelled

He determined that there was a need for these truths to be known and conveyed to his recipient(s)

Indeed, the Gospel message, the truth about Jesus Christ is utmost, front and centre of our lives as Christians.

We need to know Christ, and Him crucified.

Perhaps there was a concern that some false narratives were already being promoted.

Evidently, Luke saw that there was a need that he could fulfil - a particular purpose in writing what he did in the way he did, and so he proceeds to write.

Certainly, God led him and inspired him to write his Gospel account!

4. The Particularity of Luke (v.3)

“Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,” (Luke 1:3, NIV84)

There are some important things that we notice as Luke writes...

4.1 Accurate

Since I myself have carefully investigated everything...

Luke is not simply taking what he has heard from others.

Here is someone who wants to know the validity of claims.

In our modern day situation, here is someone who will not simply forward these viral emails and texts. Rather he'll will be the one doing the investigations and fact checking.

He's not even simply going to fact-checker, or snopes... he's doing the investigations and writing the reports.

Luke was a doctor... someone who needed to be meticulous and careful in his own work.

And his nature as a person led him to want to pay careful attention, and to investigate what was being taught by those who were claiming eye-witness accounts.

It is evident that Luke investigated...

He went to the people involved, and spoke to the eye-witnesses.

He got first-hand descriptions of emotions and feelings.

He includes accounts that are not part of other Gospel narratives...

But evidently he carefully investigated these things.

4.2 Thorough

...from the beginning...

Clearly what was taking place intrigued him, and so from the outset he started investigating.

Beginning speaks about the start of the Gospel account...

In fact - goes before... angel foretelling of the forerunner to Christ.

But he also was thorough in going to the end of Christ ministry...

And then even beyond, in the book of Acts...

Luke was entirely thorough in his investigations, and in his records.

One Third of the New Testament is written by Luke...

4.3. Ordered

...an orderly account...

This would seem to imply that there were accounts that were not orderly

Does this mean "chronological"?

Does Luke's Gospel follow events as they transpired?

This goes to the intent of the writing - what does Luke seek to convey through His Gospel account?

John, for example, is profoundly theological as it pertains to the divinity of Christ in His Gospel.

John doesn't present things in chronological order... he groups things to convey truths about Christ the confirm aspects relating to His divinity...

Luke, however, seeks to write an orderly account....

Most have suggested that his is chronological... it follows events as they happen, from pre-birth of Christ, right up until the death and resurrection of Christ...

Luke then went on to write the book of Acts, which continues Christ's story from His ascension and into the establishment of the early church.

Thoughts...

We may wonder at the reliability...

we think, if he wasn't an eye-witness himself, is he trustworthy..

Cold-case Christianity.

Also consider the AGT man recently released after 38 years in prison...

Josh McDowell - investigated to prove wrong... became a Christian.

5. The Purpose of Luke (v.4)

...for you, most excellent Theophilus..."

Here Luke presents the person(s) to whom he writes this Gospel

“the name signifies a friend of God" [Matthew Henry]

Two different views concerning this "Theophilus"

1) An Actual person named Theophilus

This person would have been someone in high standing.

“Most Excellent” - refers often to a person of high standing, or a Roman official.

Acts 24:3 - Letter written to “Most Excellent Felix”

Acts 26:25 - Paul refers to Most Excellent Festus

2) The Church, referred to under a Pseudonym

In this event, written to any person who considers themselves a friend of God...

Most likely - actual person...

Person of high standing - high social position.

May even have been a Roman official.

How did Luke know such a person?

What drove Luke to write to this person particularly?

Probably through being with Paul.

Remember - Paul had gone to Rome in order to proclaim the Gospel there… to be a witness for Christ.

Paul had made his defence in front of the Roman officials.

In Philippians, we find people from Caesars household were sending greetings to the church in Philippi.

It is likely that through these interactions, Luke had come to know this Theophilus… and was writing because there were questions...

“so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:4, NIV84)

But more likely, Theophilus was a man who was wrestling with these issues, to know if they were true or not.

He was a man being taught...

Evidently a believer...

But perhaps asking questions... searching to know the truth

As he did this, it must have come to the attention of Luke, and so he chose to write this Gospel account - an orderly account - and present it to Theophilus in order to encourage him.

Luke wants Theophilus to be encouraged, and to know with certainty that what he's been taught is true.

Luke would have us believe and know the same.

We must realise that what we have been taught in Jesus Christ, concerning Him as Lord, is accurate, it is certain, it is without false and impure motives.

We can be sure that what was conveyed about Jesus to us in the Gospels is food for our souls.

So many over the course of history have wanted to know if Christianity is true.

We must believe these accounts - not treat them as relics of ancient history, steeped in mysticism.

These are true and factual accounts concerning our Lord.

They have significant implications for our lives as Christians.

Application / Conclusion

Record of the life of Jesus.

Record from the investigations of an ordinary believer

Records from a meticulous historian.

What a joy!!